TRADE AND MARKET I NG Processing industry should open up the potato sector of Argentina ’I want to start growing my own seed in the future, so that I can determine my own grading’, Daniel Muñoz says. aiming for a bigger harvest in the 28-55 mm sizes, so that he no longer needs to cut his seed. From his own experience he knows that the yield he got from Atlantic, which is planted with non-cut seed, was 15 percent higher than that from cut seed. It’s mainly the uniformity of the crop during the growing season that led to this success. In order to improve his crop and his position in the seed potato market, he intends to invest in a grading machine so that he will be able to differentiate between the various seed potato sizes. Contract provides certainty Daniel Muñoz of Polder Produce in Tandil, who studied at Wageningen University in the nineteen nineties, also wants to make progress in the cultivation of seed potatoes. On his field, where the consumption potatoes are just emerging, the problem with cut seed is clearly visible. One plant is happily up and running, the following has just emerged, its neighbour is still below ground and number four is a flop. This gives an irregular crop and makes the control of pests and diseases very difficult, for example, because the biggest plant has already collected a number of harmful insects. ‘The question now is when do you start spraying? Are you going to wait until the last plant has emerged or start straight away, which means that you’ll miss a number of plants, decreasing the effectiveness of your spraying’, Carosella says. Muñoz knows that there are still improvements to be made here. ‘That’s why I want to start growing my own seed in the future, so that I can determine my own grading’, he says. He mentions that he’s already invested a great deal in the cultivation of potatoes in recent years. Together with the Dutch company Omnivent, he built a 3,000 ton storehouse. In order to limit the costs, he did a lot of the work himself. The reason for investing in storage is that he can then spread his sales. He can then supply ex land from February to June. During the July to October period, he supplies to Pepsico, Farm Frites and McCain from his storage. From November to January, SEBA is unable to supply and the gap is filled by other growing areas. It’s because of this that Muñoz and other growers are actively looking for varieties that can be stored longer under Argentinian conditions so that their customers in the SEBA area can be supplied throughout the year. Muñoz’s focus is on growing for the processing industry. ‘The price of the potatoes is already known at the start of the season, so that I, as a grower, can focus on my work in the field. I also focus on the long-term relationship with my buyers. Moreover, I’ve chosen to spread my risks by growing for both the crisps and the chips industry’, Muñoz explains. This year, Muñoz will receive 2,600 pesos per ton for the crisp potatoes and 1,600 pesos for the chip potatoes. On his 260 hectare farm, he grows Atlantic and a few FL varieties for Pepsico and Innovator for McCain and Farm Frites. The yields vary from 42 tons per hectare for Atlantic to 55 tons for Innovator. ‘If the potatoes are stored for a long period of time, the price increases by 25 percent per month”, Muñoz explains. ‘It’s important to continue to invest in knowledge. This is why I intend to build my own quality laboratory this year, I’ll then be able to monitor my potatoes during storage. And it’s important to increase the 22 Potato World 2016 • number 4 Pagina 21
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